Senior Data Scientist, Causal Inference

Discord is used by over 200 million people every month for many different reasons, but there’s one thing that nearly everyone does on our platform: play video games. Over 90% of our users play games, spending a combined 1.5 billion hours playing thousands of unique titles on Discord each month. Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We are focused on making it easier and more fun for people to talk and hang out before, during, and after playing games.

Discord is looking for an experienced, proactive, and self-driven Senior Causal Inference Data Scientist to join our Experimentation Platform team.

The Experimentation Platform puts data at the heart of the company’s decision-making and growth by enabling rapid and accurate product experimentation. Discord runs hundreds of experiments on any given day, turning experiment results into business decisions. At the same time, we are taking a fresh look at our platform, and planning to rebuild parts of it from scratch to take it to the next level. As a Causal Inference Data Scientist on this team, you will ensure that the statistical underpinnings of this rebuild are sound, that experimenters are able to design experiments with high rigor, and that Discord makes the best business decisions on the basis of these experiments. We are a small and quickly growing team; by joining us as an early team member, you will be presented with significant leadership opportunities as we evolve.

Our team directly impacts the strategy and roadmaps that improve Discord for its more than 200M (and many more future) users! If helping make Discord an even better place to hang out with your friends sounds like an exciting challenge - we'd love to chat with you! Check out our blog about how our team informs strategy & innovation at Discord here!

What You'll Be Doing

• Provide statistical expertise in the rebuilding of the experimentation platform, ensuring that all statistical choices, methodologies, and frameworks are sound and aligned with best practices in causal inference and experimental design.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and product teams during the platform rebuild to define and implement robust statistical methods that improve the reliability and scalability of experimentation at Discord.
• Lead initiatives to educate and train cross-functional teams on best practices in experimentation design, statistical methodologies, and causal inference, ensuring a deep understanding of the principles that drive sound decision-making under uncertainty.
• Develop and deliver engaging workshops, training sessions, and educational materials that demystify complex statistical concepts and promote data-driven decision-making across the company.
• Empower our Data Science team (50+ members) to use more rigorous causal inference methods.
• In addition to consulting within the wider Data Science team (50+ members), lead and conduct causal inference research of your own on important Discord priorities.

You Will Thrive In This Role If

• PhD in a quantitative field (e.g. Statistics, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, etc.) and 4+ years of experience designing, implementing and analyzing experiments or causal inference projects.
• Ability to critically evaluate and recommend statistical approaches and methodologies that enhance the integrity of experimentation frameworks during platform development and rebuild phases.
• Proven experience in designing and validating statistical methodologies for experimentation platforms or similar systems, with a focus on ensuring the accuracy and reliability of experimental results.
• Strong passion for education and the ability to communicate complex statistical and experimental design concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering training programs or educational content related to experimentation, causal inference, or statistical analysis, with a track record of fostering a culture of data literacy within an organization.
• Proficient with Python, SQL, R, and other statistical programming languages.

Bonus Points

• Interest in conducting literature reviews, translating and championing best scientific practices to a wide range of functions across the company.
• Track record in using causal inference methods that translated into business decisions and outcomes.
• Experience in autonomously leading cross functional projects and influencing cross functional partners.
• Passion for Discord or gaming.
• Causal inference related publications.

#LI-Remote

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $183,000 to $201,000 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.

Why Discord? 

Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We're a multiplatform, multigenerational and multiplayer platform that helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests. We believe games give us a way to have fun with our favorite people, whether listening to music together or grinding in competitive matches for diamond rank. Join us in our mission! Your future is just a click away!

Check out our inclusion, diversity and purpose efforts, company principles, or learn more about the Life @ Discord experience!